gives of it, that in fome Things it agrees with the Chriftian Liturgies. Studying Brevity, I fhall pafs by the many other Authorities that might be brought for establishing what I have advanced, and fhall reftrict my felf to what a learned Member of the Pres byterian Communion, the great Antiquary Mr. Selden, in his Notes on Eutychius from the ancient Records of the Jewish Nation, fays: "That "certain Forms of praying which were to be "ufed by every one daily by Law or received "Cuftom were inftituted by Efdras and his Confiftory; that the Jews about the End of "the Captivity had their ancient Manners, as "well as Laws, fo depraved, that without a "Mafter they were neither able to pray as they ought, nor had Confidence fo to do. There "fore for the future, that they might not re"cede in the Matter of their Prayers, through "Corruption of their Expreffion, or through "Ignorance, from that Form of Piety command"ed them by GOD; this Remedy was apply'd by the Men of the great Synagogue. "Efdras and his hundred and twenty Collegues, "That of this Kind there were eighteen Prayers or Benedictions, called, compofed, or appointed "Prayers; the three firft of thefe and the three laft refpected the Glory of GOD; the "twelve intermediate, refpected these principal Things that were neceffary either for the "whole People, or every particular Man. cc cr And the learned Dr.Hammond observes,that our Saviour did fo defign his Prayer, as fet down in St. Matth. vi. "That the three firft Branches, and the Conclufion, which may pass for other three, refer to the Glory of GOD, and the t "other intermediate, to our publick and private "Wants. "That Mr. Selden farther takes Notice, "these Prayers were to be learned by every Man. That the Prayers of the unskilful might be as perfect as thofe of the moft Eloquent. That every Act of Prayer was begun with the Pfal. xxxi and vi. That of thofe eighteen Prayers, no one was to be omitted. That if any other "were added, they were counted of like free "Will-Offerings, as the other were answerable "for the prescribed. That the Additions might "be made only in thofe Prayers which con"cerned our Wants, because those were capa"ble of Variations, but not thofe that concern"ed GOD. That on the Sabbath and Feast"Days none might ufe a voluntary Prayer. He farther in the forecited Book endeavours to "That our Saviour in compomake it appear, "fing his own Prayer, had a fpecial Reference to thofe folemn Forms then in Ufe amongst "the Jews; and with them (to make good "what he fays) Part by Part compares the "LORD's Prayer. I have been the fuller with this Antiquary's Authority becaufe of the great Refpect was paid to him by the Presbyterians of Britain, when he was managing at the Head of their Cause in the House of Commons, and fhall add no farther Teftimonies to prove what was intended, as to the Jewish Church, viz. That GOD did no fooner settle an established Church amongst them, than he prefcribed them a stated Form of Worfhip, and that, in all the different Periods, even from Mofes to our Saviour's Time. Mr. Selden gives the Reason, and that a very substantial one too: That the Prayers of the Unskilful skilful might be as perfect, as the Prayers of the moft Learned. Many more Arguments might be brought from the Old Teftament, and the conftant Practice of the Jewish Church; but our Adverfaries chiefly urge, that now under the Evangelical Difpenfation, that there is a more plentiful Manifeftation of the Spirit, praying by Set Forms is unlawful. Now that Set Forms have Warrant and Authority from the New Teftament, as well as the Old, will appear from the following Arguments, the Precept and Example of our LORD, the Practice of the Apoftles, and the Benefits that attend a Worship performed in Decency and Order. When our bleed LORD's Difciples came to him with useful and proper Enquiries, he always plainly refolved them, fo as to leave no room for any Difficulty or Doubt. If the Questions were more for Curiofity than Edification, he either checked their Importunity, or left them unrefolved. Thus when they ask, Acts i. 6, Lord, Wilt thou at this Time restore the Kingdom to Ifrael ? He answered, It is not for you to know the Times or the Seafons, which the Father hath put in his own Power. So likewife, St. Luke xiii. 23. one faid unto him, Are there few that be faved? And he he faid unto them, Strive to enter in at the ftrait Gate, &c. and St. John xxi. 22. when St. Peter asked him about the Fate of the beloved Difciple, he checks him. If I will that he tarry 'till I come, what is that. to thee? Follow thou me. All his Answers to curious or impertinent Enquiries are fo many Reproofs; but when they enquire about Things ufeful and neceflary, he writes his Mind with a Sun-Beam plain, pofitive, and intelligible. Thus St. Matth. xix. 17. G 2 when when one came unto him to be directed in the way to eternal Happiness, he readily inftru&ts him: If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commands According to the Importance of the Questions, fo are his Anfwers; from whence we may believe, and conclude, that the Requeft the Apoftles made to be inftructed in a Form of Prayer was very acceptable, and the Form our LORD prescribed was most perfect. And it's worth our Confideration, that when the Difciples came for an Increase of their Faith, St. Luke xvii. 5. He gave them no Form of their Faith, but left that to be given to his Church thro' the Holy Ghost, to be afterwards poured out upon them; but that all the Chriftian World might put up their Defires in the fame Words, and fpeak the fame Language, he frameth that Form and compleat Prayer, which we call The LORD's Prayer. He who is the Word of the Father, who, as GOD, knew best what Petitions would be pleafing to GOD, and as he was Man knew what Petitions were not fuitable for Men, prefcribed this incomparable Form, that we might have Hopes to obtain our Requests, and be accepted with our Heavenly Father. St. Matth. vi. 9. After this manner pray ye: St. Luke xi. 2. When ye pray, Say, OUR FATHER. A Prayer which is a moft compleat Form of it felf, and aifo a moft exact Rule and Pattern, according to which all other Prayers fhould be made. This has been ufed in all Ages of the Church, not only as a common Part of her Prayers and Service, but as the chief and fundamental; the Ground whereupon fhe builds, the Pattern whereby fhe frames and perfe&s all the rest of her heavenly Devotions, as may be fcen by the Li turgies turgies of all Chriftian Nations. And tho' Men fhould be endued with the Understanding, and speak with the Tongue of Angels, yet, Words fo pleafing and acceptable to the Ears of GOD, as thofe which the SON of GOD did compose, cannot poffibly be uttered. Obj. If it fhould be objected that it is rather a Pattern, according to which we are to form our Prayers, than a Prayer, because by St. Matth. it's faid, After this Manner pray ye. Say Anfw. 1. It's by St. Luke faid, When ye pray, - 2. As fome Weights and Meafures which are most exact in their Kind, being made or appointed for Standards, do not therefore lofe the Nature of Weights, or Meafures, but are rather warranted and valuable; fo the LORD's Prayer by being made a Pattern, is thereby.commended to us to be the most abfolute Form of Prayer in the World. St. Matth. xxvi. 39. Our Saviour prayed, O my Father, if it be poffible, let this Cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt; and Ver. 44. he prayed the third Time, faying the fame Words. St. Luke xxiii. 46. Father, into thy Hands I commend my Spirit, the Words of the Holy Ghoft, Pfal. xxxi. Ver. 5. and with little Variation used by St. Stephen in giving up his Soul to CHRIST. Acts vii. 59. The Bleffing with which our Saviour was faluted in his publick Entry to Jerufalem. St. Matth. xxi. 9. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, is taken from Pfal. cxviii. 26. It's certain from the Queftion of the Difciples, that St. John Baptift had prescribed a Form to his Disciples. St. Luke xi. 1. Lord, teach |